Lifton



L. LIFTON March 3, 1964 ATTACHE CASE AND FILE RETAINING MEANS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1962 INVENTOR.

ma J1 L. LlFTON 3,123,190 ATTACHE CASE AND FILE RETAINING MEANS THEREFOR March 3, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1962 R N mm w m M 5 I w J 4 M V. B

March 3, 1964 L. LlFTON 3,123,190

ATTACHE CASE AND FILE RETAINING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR. ZEW/s Z F m/v 15 WMZZMZ/MW/ QM 9% My United States Patent C) Filed July 19, 1962, Ser. No. 213,340 7 Claims. (Cl. 190-51) This invention relates generally to attache, or carrying cases and more particularly to a composite attach case and fan file including retaining means for selectively locking or retaining the fan file in a desired position. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 51,557, filed August 24, 1960, now abandoned, for Attache Case and File Retaining Means Therefor.

In recent years attach cases have gone into wide use since they have a multitude of uses and applications as contrasted to other types of carriers. This popularity of attach cases is primarily due to the fact that such a case may be used both as an overnight bag and as a file case. In general, the bottom housing of an attache case is used to store overnight garments, and the clothes are covered by a partition which serves both to hide the clothing and to function as a writing surface. The upper housing of the attach case generally has a file case either fixedly or removably disposed therein. The disadvantage of presently available attache cases is that no simple means are provided for locking the partition in the lower hus ing in an upright position when it is desired to reach the garments stored therein. Another disadvantage is that no means are provided for conveniently detaching the fan file from the upper housing and for retaining the fan file in a desired open position.

In view of the foregoing, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an attach case with a simple and efiicient means for retaining a fan file therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attache case with retaining means for securing a pivotable partition in an upright position when it is not in use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attache case with retaining means for holding a fan file mounted therein in any extended desired position.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro vide 'an attach case with retaining means which are pivotally mounted in the upper compartment of the attachcase and which may be simply pivoted to either an operative or inoperative position.

As a further feature of my invention, I have contributed to the art an attach case having a partition and fan file which are completely removable, if desired, as when the user wishes to utilize the entire attache case for wearing apparel and the like.

Still another feature is the provision of an attach case with retaining means for holding a fan file mounted therein in either an extended or an upright position while at the same time supporting a partition which is provided with a writing surface thereon.

These and further objects and features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like components in the several views are identified by the same reference numeral.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an attache case embodying the features of the present invention, portions of ice the file case mounted therein being broken away to illustrate structural details;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 22 in FIG. 1 and illustrating the manner of removably mounting a file case in the upper compartment of the attache case;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of FIG. 1 and illustrates the manner of mounting the file retaining means of the present invention in the upper housing of the attach case;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the manner in which the file retaining means can be pivoted from an operative to an inoperative position;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 1 but illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein the file retaining means consist of two discontinuous rather than one continuous member, the file retaining means being shown in engagement with a fan file fixedly mounted in the upper housing of the attach case;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a portion of FIG. 5 and illustrates the file retaining means after it has been pivoted to an inoperative position and the fan file has been opened to an extended position;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5 and illustrates the manner in which the fan file is fixedly mounted in the attache case;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken on the line 8 8 of FIG. 5 and further illustrates the manner in which the fan file is fixedly secured in the attach case;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an attach case embodying the features of the present invention, and illustrating the partition in a normally open position to permit access to the articles stored in the lower compartment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the partition in a closed position to conceal the articles stored in the lower compartment and also permitting the partition to function as a writing surface; and

FIG. 11 is a crosssection taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10 and illustrating the manner of removably mountingfi a fan file and partition in the attach' case.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to F168. 1 through 4 thereof there is illustrated a composite attache case which is designated in general by the numeral 10. Although the attache case 1% may be of any desired configuration it is illustrated as a box type case having a lower five-sided box-like housing 11 and a five-sided box-like lid or closure element 12. The housing 11 and lid 12 are pivotally interconnected by means of hinges 13 which are mounted at spaced intervals on juxtaposed portions of the housing 11 and lid 12. The housing 11 and lid 12 are disen'gagedly secured in closed position by means of interengageable locking elements.

14 and 15 which are mounted on juxtaposed portions of the lid 12 and housing 11. As illustrated in FIG. 1 the housing 11 and lid 12 are provided with foldable diagonal braces 16 which limit the extent to which the lid may be swung away from the lower housing. In the illustrated embodiment these braces 16 limit the opening of the lid 12 to approximately degrees. Therefore, the lid 12 is approximately vertical when in open position, assuming that the housing 11 is supported on a horizontal surface. 7

While the lid or closure 12 may assume various forms, it is shown as consisting of front and rear walls 17 and 18, a pair of side walls 19 and a top wall 20, the latter be- 3 coming a back wall when the lid is in open position. The housing 11 is of virtually identical construction to the lid 12 with the exception that it is deeper to receive articles to be carried in the attach case. It is to be noted that the lid 12 and housing 11 define spaces or cavities designated respectively by the numerals 21 and 22.

The recess 22 in the housing 11 is adapted to receive wearing apparel or other articles which for example may be used on an overnight trip. In order to conceal the articles stored in the recess 22 in the housing 11, a partition 23 is provided to enclose the recess 22. The partition 23 is preferably pivotally mounted to the rear wall 39 of the housing 11 so that it can be swung open to provide access to the contents stored in the recess 22, and then be swung back to a closed position to again conceal said articles.

The recess 21 in the lid 12 is adapted to receive an inner case designated in general by the numeral 24. The inner case 24 may assume various forms and is illustrated in FIG. 1 as an underarm type case removably mounted in the recess 21. The underarm type case 24 illustrated in FIG. 1 consists of a pair of substantially flat parallel wall portions 25 and 26, the Wall portion 25 being provided with an extension 27 which is adapted to fold over against the wall 26 and to be detachably secured thereto by means of a clasp or lock 28. The wall portions 25 and 26 are joined together along each edge by a folded portion 29 which forms a plurality of spaced gussets 30. In this manner the wall elements 25 and 26 are extensible and collapsible when the case 24 is opened and closed. A

plurality of dividers 31 extend between the end members 29 and are arranged to fan open when the walls 25 and 26 are separated.

For the purpose of disengageably retaining the underarm type case 24 within the recess 21 in the lid 12, the lid 12 is provided with retaining means designated in general by the numeral 32. The file retaining means 32 consist of a flat elongated strap member which is preferably made of metal, plastic or the like so as to be fairly rigid. The file retainer 32 may be covered with leather or other material in order to blend in with the decor of the case 10. The ends 33 of the file retainer 32 are bent at right angles to the face 34 thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The length of the face 34 is approximately the same as the spacing between the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 12 of the lid 12. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 the ends 33 of the file retainer 32 are secured at diametrically opposed positions to the inner surface of the side walls 19 of the lid 12, and at a distance spaced from the front wall 17 of the lid 12 slightly greater than the length of the ends 33 for a purpose to be presently described.

The ends 33 of the file retainer 32 are secured to the side walls 19 of the lid 12 by rivets 35 or other means so that the file retainer 32 is pivotable thereabout. The bottom edges 36 of the ends 33 are bent inwardly as best illustrated in FIG. 3 to form flanges 37. The flanges 37 preferably form an included angle of 90 degrees between the inner surface of the ends 33 and the flanges 37. The flanges 37 extend from the extremity of the ends 33 approximately half the length thereof and thereafter merge with the ends 33 to avoid any sharp corners. The width of the flanges 37 is slightly greater than finger width for a purpose to be presently described.

In operation the file retainers 32 are normally positioned within the lid 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4, i.e., with the face 34 disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the front wall 17 of the lid 12. This position is normally termed the inoperative position. As illustrated in FIG. 4 when the file retainer 32 is in this position the flanges 37 are exposed and accessible. In order to move the file retainer 32 to an operative position, i.e., with the face 34 parallel to the rear wall 20 of the lid 12, all that is required is to exert finger pressure on one or both of the flanges 37. When pressure is thus applied to the flanges 37 the file retainers pivot about the rivets 35 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. Since the length of the ends 33 is approximately the same as the depth of the recess 21 in the lid 12, the file retainers can only pivot through an arc of degrees, since when the file retainer is pivoted to the position indicated in FIG. 3, the ends of the flanges 37 and the ends 33 bear against the top wall 20 of the lid 12 and prevent the file retainer from being rotated further.

In this manner the file retainer is limited in rotation to an arc of approximately 90 degrees. The file retainer 32 is prevented from sagging when in the inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 4 by means of a bracket 38 which is illustrated in FIG. 2. The bracket 38 is attached to the inner surface of the front wall 17 approximately inter mediate the side walls 19 and is spaced slightly from the front wall 17 to receive the face 34 of the file retainer 32 when it is in the position illustrated in FIG. 4.

In order to mount the underarm type case within the recess 21 in the lid 12 the extension 27 of the rear wall 25 is detached from the front wall 26. The file retainer 32 is then moved in the manner described to the operative position illustrated in FIG. 3 and the extension 27 of the case 24 is looped over the face 34 of the file retainer. When this is done, the extension 27 is again secured to the front wall 26 and the case 24 is thereby secured within the recess 21. In order to keep the bottom of the case 24 firmly within the recess 21 a clasp 40 is attached to the top wall 211 of the lid 12. The clasp 441 has a finger portion 41 which is substantially parallel to the top wall 20 of the lid 12 and is adapted to engage one of the gussets 30 along the bottom edge of the case 24. In this manner the case 24 is firmly but removably secured in the recess 21.

It is to be understood that the case 24 may if desired be fixedly secured within the recess 21 of the lid 12. If this is done the extension 27 on the case 24 can be eliminated. It is also to be understood that the case 24 if removable can also be provided with a handle on the extension 27 so that the case can be carried as a brief case.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8. In this embodiment the recess 21 in the lid 12 is illustrated as receiving a fan file 42 which is fixedly received in the recess 21. It is to be understood, however, that the fan file 42 may be detachably received in the recess '21 in the same manner as the case 24 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. The fan file 42 is generally of the same construction as the case 24 with the exception that the extension 27 has been eliminated. The fan file 42 is secured Within the recess 21 by attaching the rear wall 43 of the fan file 42 to the inner surface of the top wall 21} of the lid 12. This can be accomplished in any well known manner such as by stitching or by means of the clips 44 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The attachment is such that the front wall 45 of the fan file 42 is extensible and collapsible when the fan file 42 is opened and closed. If desired the rear Wall 43 of the fan file 42 can be eliminated and the ends of the flexible end elements 4 6 can be attached to the top wall 20 of the lid 12. In the fan file illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 the rear wall 43 is an extension of the front wall 45 and is attached to the top wall 20. With this latter embodiment the fan file swings open and pivots about the extension 47 of the wall 45 of the fan file.

The file retainers 43 are similar to the file retainers 32 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 with the exception that it consists of two identical elements. As illustrated best in FIG. 6, the end sections 33 of the file retainers 48 are identical to the ends 33 of the file retainers 32. Each file retainer 48, however, is provided with a face portion 42 which has a length slightly less than the depth of the gussets 331 when the fan file 42 is in a fully extended or open position.

In operation, when it is desired to completely collapse and retain the fan file 42 in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 5, the retainers 42 are pivoted to the position sheaths illustrated in FIG. 5. When this is done the faces 49 of the file retainers engage the outer surface of the front wall 45 of the fan file '42. thereby retaining it in the closed position. When it is desired to remove something from the fan file 42 the file retainers 48 are pivoted to an inoperative posit-ion illustrated in FIG. 6 in the same manner as the file retainer 32 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. If it is desired to only partially expand the fan file and to retain it in this slightly expanded position, the file retainers 48 are again pivoted to an operative position and the faces 49 are received in diametrically opposed gussets 3%. Depending on which gussets 30 the faces 49 are received in, the fan file may be in a fully open, slightly open, or any intermediate position, the degree of flexibility being only ependent on the gussets provided.

The file retainers of the present invention may also be utilized to retain the partition 23 in an open position, i.e., parallel to the top wall 20 of the lid 12. This is accomplished with either of the aforementioned embodiments of the invention by first pivoting the file retainers to an inoperative position, pivoting the partition 23 parallel to the top wall 20, and then pivoting the file retainers to the operative position such that faces thereof engage and retain the partition.

It is to be noted that the extremities of the ends 50 of the file retainers 32 and 4 8 opposite the flanges are rounded or beveled. This enables the file retainers to easily pivot without catching and wearing the inner surface of the wall 20'.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11. The numerals utilized in the prior figures are again utilized to designate the same corresponding elements. Basically the attache case Iii comprises three major components, the housing 11, the lid 12 and the combination fan file 54 and partition 23. The combination fan file and partition is adapted to be readily removable from the attache case when the entire case is utilized for receiving wearing apparel or other articles which, for example, may be used on an overnight trip. Further, the combination fan file and partition may be retained completely within the recess of the lid 12. The fan file and partition may also be utilized as a Writing desk when the fan file 54 is retained within the lid 12 and the partition 23 is supported in the housing 11. While in this position the fan file itself may assume an extended or open condition in order to provide accessibility to papers or documents which may be contained therein or the fan file may be collapsed and retained entirely within the lid.

FIG. 9 illustrates the attache case 10 with the combination fan file 5d and partition 23 retained within the lid 12. The partition 23 is held in an upright position in order to provide access to the articles 52 contained in the recess 22 of the housing 11. The housing is further provided with a plurality of brackets 79 which support the partition 23 when it is being utilized as a writing desk. Housing 11 is further provided with locking elements and a rear wall 39.

The rear Wall 39 is provided with hinges 13 which are secured to the lid 12. The lid 32 comprises a pair of side walls 19, a front Wall 17 and a top wall 219. Foldable diagonal braces 16 limit the opening of the lid 12 to approximately 90 degrees. Therefore the lid 12 is maintained approximately vertical when in an open position, assuming that the housing 11 is supported on a horizontal surface. The lid 12 is further provided with locking elements 14 which are adapted to engage with the housing locking elements 15 when the lid is in a closed position. The walls of the lid co-act to form a recess 21 in which the combination fan file 54 and partition 23 may be positioned' if desired.

Referring now to FIG. 10 the attach case 10 is illustrated with the partition 23 being supported in the housing 11 while the fan file 54 is partially contained within. the lid 12. The fan file is illustrated in an extended con- 6 dition in order to provide accessibility to the contents therein. One side of the partition 23 may be provided with a desk-like surface or blotter as desired.

The fan file '54 comprises a forward wall 56, a rear wall 58, a plurality of dividers 66 and a plurality of flexible elements 62 which interconnect with the corresponding edges of the for-ward wall, the rear wall and the dividers as shown. The forward wall 55 may be provided with an extension portion 57 which extends under the dividers 60 and is secured to the rear wall 58 by means of stitching or rivets as desired. The extension 57 forms a bottom member for the fan file 54. The partition 23 is provided with a hinge portion 68 which extends under the fan file and is likewise secured to the rear wall 58. Thus, the partition 23 is pivotally attached to the fan file.

Retaining means designated generally as 72 are provided in the lid member for holding the fan file or the combination fan file and partition therein. The retaining means 72 comprise an end portion 74, a front face 78 and a back face 76 which is slightly shorter than the front face in order to facilitate the removal of the fan file from the lid. The end portion 74 is pivotally connected to the side walls 19. The end portion is preferably parallel to the side walls 19 and both faces are preferably perpendicular to the end portion. The back face 76 may be dispensed with if desired. However, the back face 76 is useful as a means for holding the rear wall 58 in position in order to prevent sagging. T his is especially true when the resilient hook 90, hereinafter described, is omitted. Of course, the resilient hook and the back face 76 may act in con'iunction with each other for providing additional stability. It is noted that when the forward wall 56 is pushed towards the closed position it automatically spins the front face 78 to the position shown in FIG. 9 by means of end portion 74 pivoting about pin 80. This may be accomplished by means of the forward wall 56 urging the edge of the back face 76 or by means of providing retaining means 72 with a flange portion such as was described heretofore in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4 at 37.

While it is not necessary, it may be desirable to provide a clasp $2 secured to the back portion of the top wall 26 by means of rivets 84 acting in conjunction with a top plate 86. The clasp 82 is provided with a finger portion 88 which removably engages the back wall 58 of the fan file 54. Likewise, a resilient hook 90 may be provided if desired. Hook 9% is secured to the front portion of the top wall 20 by means of rivets 84 acting in conjunction with top plate 86 as shown in FIG. 11.

What has thus been described and illustrated is an attache case having either fixedly or removably received therein an inner case and means for retaining the inner case within a recess provided in the lid of the attach case. The file retaining means functions both to retain the inner case Within the confines of the recess, or if the case is of the fan file type having a plurality of pockets and gussets, the file retaining means may also be used to lock the fan file in any desired extended position. The file retaining means also function to maintain a partition or writing desk in upright or inoperative position Where it does not interfere with easy access to the contents of the recess provided in the lower housing of the attach case. It is to be understood that although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated it will recognized by those skilled in the art that modifications may be provided therein within the scope of the followmg claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A combination carrying case and inner case retained therein, the combination comprising a box type case having a box-like body housing with an inverted boxlike lid hinged thereon to provide interior body and lid compartments, said lid having a top wall and a pair of end walls extending therefrom, an inner case received in said lid compartment and having a relatively stiff wall movable with respect to the top wall of said lid, a retainer to maintain said movable wall of said inner case within said lid compartment, said retainer including a forward wall and a side wall extending therefrom, said side wall being pivotally attached to one end of said lid and said forward wall extending toward the opposed end wall of said lid, and flange means extending from said side wall opposite said forward wall whereby when pressure is exerted on said flange in one direction said forward wall pivots in the opposite direction to move respectively into and out of engagement with said movable wall of said inner case, said retainer being adapted to be pivoted to an inoperative position wherein said forward wall is pivoted to a position proximate to said top wall of said lid.

2. A combination carrying case and inner case retained therein, the combination comprising a box type case having a box-like body housing with an inverted boxlike lid hinged thereon to provide interior body and lid compartments, said lid having a top wall and a pair of end walls extending therefrom, an inner case received in said lid compartment and having a relatively stiff wall movable with respect to the top wall of said lid, a retainer to maintain said movable wall of said inner case within said lid compartment, said retainer including a forward wall and a side wall extending at substantially a right angle therefrom, said side wall being pivotally attached to one end wall of said lid and said forward wall extending toward the opposed end wall of said lid, and flange means extending at substantially a right angle from said side wall opposite said forward wall and toward the opposed end wall of said lid whereby when pressure is exerted on said flange in one direction said forward wall pivots in the opposite direction to move respectively into and out of engagement with said movable wall of said inner case, said retainer being adapted to be pivoted to an inoperative position wherein said forward wall is pivoted to a position proximate to said top wall of said lid.

3. A combination carrying case and inner case retained therein, the combination comprising a box type case having a box-like body housing with an inverted box-like lid hinged thereon to provide interior body and lid compartments, said lid having a top wall and a pair of end walls extending therefrom, an inner case received in said lid compartment and having a relatively stiff wall movable with respect to the top wall of said lid, a retainer to maintain said movable wall of said inner case within said lid compartment, said retainer including a relatively stiff forward wall and a relatively stiff side wall extending at substantially a right angle from one end thereof, said side wall being pivotable about an axis extending from one end wall of said lid and said forward wall extending toward the opposed end wall of said lid, said side wall of said retainer being pivotable with respect to said end wall of said lid about said axis, said axis being removed from said rear wall of said lid a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the end of said side wall removed from said forward wall and said axis whereby when said forward wall of said retainer is parallel to said top wall the end of the side wall abuts said top wall to prevent rotation of said retainer, and flange means extending at substantially a right angle from said side wall opposite said forward wall and toward the opposed end wall of said lid whereby when pressure is exerted on said flange in one direction said forward wall pivots in the opposite direction to move respectively into and out of engagement with said movable wall of said inner case, said retainer being adapted to be pivoted about said axis to an inoperative position wherein said forward wall is pivoted to a position proximate to said top wall of said case.

4. A combination attache case and inner case of the fan file type, said combination comprising a relatively stiff lid for said attach case, a pair of gussets attached to said lid on the inner side thereof adjacent the opposite edges thereof, each of said gussets having a corresponding plurality of pleats, a relatively stiff inner cover attached to said gussets and to the inner surface of said lid along a line running between one end of said gussets, said inner cover being relatively free to pivot about said line under the control of said gussets, a plurality of separators attached to corresponding opposite pleats of said gussets to pivot along with said inner cover, a pair of substantially L-shaped retainers pivotally attached to said lid outside of said gussets and near the ends thereof remote from said line about which said inner cover pivots, said L-shapcd retainers each having a side wall portion through which the axis of re pivotal attachment passes, the side wall of each of said retainers extending on both sides of said pivotal axis, and each of said retainers having a forward wall, said forward walls facing toward each other and being of a length not substantially longer than the depth of said pleats whereby said retainers may retain said inner cover completely closed toward the inner surface of said lid and may retain individual ones of said separators closed toward the inner surface of said lid, said retainer being adapted to be pivoted about said axis to an inoperative position wherein said forward wall is pivoted to a position proximate to said top wall of said case.

5. A combination carrying case and inner case retained therein, the combination comprising a box-type case having a box-like body housing with an inverted box-like lid hinged thereon to provide interior body and lid compartments, said lid having a top wall and a pair of end walls extending therefrom, an inner case received in said lid compartment and having a relatively stiff wall movable with respect to the top wall of said lid, a retainer to maintain said movable wall of said inner case within said lid, said retainer including a forward wall extending substantially between the end walls of said lid and side walls extending substantially perpendicularly from the ends thereof, said side walls being pivotally attached to said end walls of said lid whereby said forward wall is pivotable with respect to said top wall, said side walls of said retainer being pivotable with respect to said end walls of said lid about an axis removed from said top wall of said lid a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the ends of said side walls removed from said forward wall and said axis whereby when said forward wall of said retainer is parallel to said top wall the ends of the side walls abut said top wall to prevent rotation of said retainer, and flange means extending from one of said side walls opposite said forward wall whereby when pressure is exerted on said flange in one direction, said forward wall pivots in the opposite direction to move respectively into and out of engagement with said movable wall of said inner case, said retainer being adapted to be pivoted about said axis to an inoperative position wherein said forward wall is pivoted to a position proximate to said top wall of said case.

6. A carrying case comprising a box-like housing and a box-like lid hinged thereon to provide interior body and lid compartments; said lid having a top wall, a front wall, and a pair of end walls extending therefrom; a fan file removably received within said lid compartment and having a relatively stiff forward wall, a relatively stiff back wall, a plurality of dividers and a plurality of flexible elements which interconnect the corresponding edges of said forward wall, back wall and dividers; a disk-like partition shaped to fit within said housing and being pivotal- 1y attached to said fan file, a plurality of brackets being provided in said housing for supporting said partition; at least one retainer for maintaining said fan file and said partition within said lid, said retainer having an end, a front face extending substantially perpendicular to said end, and a back face spaced apart and extending substantially parallel to said front face, and said end being pivotally attached to said side wall.

'7. A carrying case comprising a box-like housing and a box-like lid hinged thereon to provide interior body and References Cited in the file of this patent lid compartments, said lid having a top wall and a pair UNITED STATES PATENTS of end walls extending therefrom; a combination fan file and disk-like partition shaped to fit within said carrying g case; means for removably holding said fan file and par- 5 15411046 Han June 1925 tition within said lid, means for supporting said partition 1 54 2 9 Patton June 1 1 25 in said housing, said fan file having a back wall, a for- 1 9,765 Switkes 6, 1932 ward wall, a plurality of dividers and a plurality of fiex- 2,091,651 Fl tt t 1 A 31, 1937 ible elements which interconnect the corresponding edges 10 2,181,587 Plotkin Nov. 28, 1939 of said forward wall, back wall and dividers, an extension 2,349,543 Esher et a1 May 23, 1944 portion extending from said forward wall and being se- 2,595,039 t n APT 9, 1952 cured to said back wall, and a flexible hinge portion ex- 2,673,756 Amen 1954 tending from one edge of said partition and being secured 2,782,890 Powell et 1957 2,907,420 Doppelt Oct. 6, 1959 to said back wall. 

5. A COMBINATION CARRYING CASE AND INNER CASE RETAINED THEREIN, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A BOX-TYPE CASE HAVING A BOX-LIKE BODY HOUSING WITH AN INVERTED BOX-LIKE LID HINGED THEREON TO PROVIDE INTERIOR BODY AND LID COMPARTMENTS, SAID LID HAVING A TOP WALL AND A PAIR OF END WALLS EXTENDING THEREFROM, AN INNER CASE RECEIVED IN SAID LID COMPARTMENT AND HAVING A RELATIVELY STIFF WALL MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE TOP WALL OF SAID LID, A RETAINER TO MAINTAIN SAID MOVABLE WALL OF SAID INNER CASE WITHIN SAID LID, SAID RETAINER INCLUDING A FORWARD WALL EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN THE END WALLS OF SAID LID AND SIDE WALLS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID END WALLS OF SAID LID WHEREBY SAID FORWARD WALL IS PIVOTABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP WALL, SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID RETAINER BEING PIVOTABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID END WALLS OF SAID LID ABOUT AN AXIS REMOVED FROM SAID TOP WALL OF 